Nkwazi Lodge: Our full report

Nkwazi Lodge is owned and run by Valerie & Wynand Peypers is situated 20km east-north-east of Rundu at the north of Namibia. This rustic lodge is tucked away among lush riverine vegetation on the banks of the perennial Kavango River. It’s low-lying and the site is occasionally flooded when the Kavango River overflows!

Stop press: following a recent visit in December 2016 Expert Africa has decided to stop recommending Nkwazi Lodge. We felt that the standards here had fallen below the level we would normally expect and recommend to our travellers. This said, it seems that the intention is for the owner's son to take over the running of the lodge and we are hopeful that things may pick up again. Please speak to us before considering a stay here.

There are ten wooden, thatched chalets at Nkwazi Lodge – with stone floors and thatching that comes down almost to the ground at the corners. These are sparsely furnished with an en-suite bathroom containing flush toilets and hot showers available around the clock. The rooms are equipped with mosquito nets and have a tea and coffee station.

Nkwazi also has eight rooms that are specious enough to add two extra beds for families, each of which has a similar wooden construction with a living area, two bedrooms (each furnished with twin beds) and an en-suite bathroom. During our last stay here, in 2010, we saw a few new rooms, which were not quite finished; these were stone cottages with thatched roofs.

The main area at Nkwazi is linked to the chalets via pathways. The main building has partially open sides and offers comfortable seating, where guests can relax and enjoy the view of the Kvango River. There is a small cash bar available.

The swimming pool is large and great to cool off from the days’ heat.

There are various activities available at Nkwazi Lodge including canoeing, horseback trials, bird watching, traditional dances in the evening, tailor-made fishing trips and sundowner cruises.

Nkwazi Lodge has close links with the local community and offers the opportunity to spend a day visiting the local schools, a village, a church and agricultural projects.

Our view

Nkwazi Lodge is a basic camp which makes a very affordable stop in Rundu – if you’re self-driving across the Caprivi Strip – on your way to or from Victoria Falls. It’s not a camp that we’d aim for, but it is somewhere that our travellers often find friendly with hospitable hosts and friendly staff.